Wildflower (12 page)

He did and she gave it to him. Hubby devoured
the biscuit instantly and looked for more. “Ok big fella,” smiled
Abby as she opened the back door of her car, “hop in and I’ll give
you another.” The dog looked in the car hesitantly then began to
back away. Abby showed him the biscuit then tossed it onto the back
seat of the car. He instantly hopped in after it and she closed the
door behind him.

“You’re not really going to keep that ugly
old dog around are you, Miss Abby?” asked Alfred as she shut the
dog inside her car.

“Why not Alfred?” she asked with a wicked
grin as she walked around to the driver’s door. “I keep you and
Henry around, and you two are way uglier than the dog. Heck, he
even smells better.” The others were still laughing at the brothers
as she drove away and headed home.

“Abby, what in the name of time have you got
there?” asked Keith as he saw her coming toward his house with
Hubby on the leash.

“This is Hubby, isn’t he beautiful?”

“He’s so ugly he’s cute,” laughed Wanda as
she came out of the house to inspect the puppy. He sat and looked
at her with one ear fully up and alert, the other flopping down one
the other side. “I’m so glad Little Al found a home for him.”

“You know this handsome fellow?”

“My nephew’s son’s dog,” replied Keith.
“Little Al asked us to take him, but we already have two cats, so
we suggested that he try to find someone else. I was afraid we
would have to take him after all because they are leaving first
thing in the morning. How did you come to get him anyway?”

Abby related the tale of her new Hubby and
Keith just shook his head sadly. “That man is far too easy about
making away with animals,” he sighed at last. “It would be justice
if the boy just drops him off at the old folk’s home a few years
from now.”

“Keith Pike,” exclaimed Wanda, “your own
sister’s child.”

“I know Wanda honey, that’s just one more sin
for me I guess, but he had no real excuse to shoot the poor beast.
Hubby will be a good dog for you Abby. He has a very gentle nature,
but, like all dogs, he will come to feel protective of his home and
family.”

“I don’t really know a lot about dogs Keith,”
Abby mused thoughtfully as she bent to scratch Hubby behind the
upright ear. “What can you tell me about what I am in for?”

“Well, he’s a pack animal, so he’s going to
be a bit depressed at being abandoned by his pack. He’ll need to be
neutered, and to have his shots as well as whatever training you
want him to have. I would wait a few weeks before taking him to the
vet though.”

“Why?”

“Well, he needs to regard you as his new
pack. He’s just been abandoned once, if you cart him right off to a
place where they hurt him, he’ll never really learn to trust you
completely. You have to build that trust in him first, and then you
can take him in. The vet can tell you whatever else you need to
know. Did you get dog food?”

“Yes,”

“Just follow the directions on the box,”
Keith went on. “He’ll whine for more but...”

“He’s a man,” teased Wanda, “and like all
men, he’ll just want more no matter how much you give him.”

“Hush woman,” exclaimed Keith. “Not in front
of the neighbors.”

“What else Keith?” giggled Abby.

“Well, he’s house broken, but you’ll have to
watch him for the first while until you get accustomed to each
others rituals. You also have to make sure he knows that you’re the
boss. If you say here and he says no, you have to make him come.
I’ll get you a long piece of rope to use as a training lead.”

“Use your internet Abby,” smiled Wanda.
“There should be lots of useful information there.”

“Good idea Wanda,” smiled Abby as she
accepted the rope from Keith. “Any last words before me and my
Hubby head for home?”

“He’s only young Abby, he’ll need lots of
play time, and since you’re his pack now, that’s your job.”

“Ok my man, I think we’re ready to test our
wings,” sighed Abby. “Thanks a million folks. Come on Hubby, let’s
go home and cook dinner.”

“Now why do you suppose she took on that
foolish dog,” mused Keith as Abby and Hubby walked away. “It’ll
drive her crazy.”

“That dog is the best thing in the world for
Abby right now Keith,” sighed Wanda as she laid her head on his
shoulder. “That girl carries a world of pain inside her, and just
maybe that puppy will help her heal some of it.”

“She ever tell you about it?”

“Not yet.”

“Ah well, none of my business I guess. It
sure is nice to see lights in the old house again though.”

“Yes it is. You know, sometimes she reminds
me a lot of Bride Murphy herself.”

“I did notice that, my love,” he smiled as he
gave his wife a gentle squeeze. “I did notice that.”

Bonding

Abby sat reading the directions on the side
of the dog food bag while Hubby devoured what she had put down for
him. When he was finished he looked for more, but she admonished
him that she had given him all that she was supposed to. The dog
seemed to hang on her every word while she spoke, and he followed
closely on her heels as she went to the office to do some internet
research. With a deep heavy sigh as only a dog can do, Hubby
settled down beside her feet and slept while she worked.

A few hours and several sheets of notes
later, Abby gave it up and took the dog out for a last walk of the
day. She put him on the long rope Keith had given her so he could
romp around a bit and do his business. She walked swiftly over
toward one of the abandoned houses, then slowed down as she reached
the edges of her own property. A few days of this and Hubby would
soon learn where he was to do his business.

A cup of tea and a snack for Abby, a biscuit
for Hubby and the day was over. Abby put down one of her old
sweaters for a bed and made the dog comfortable there. As she
climbed the stairs toward her own bed Abby heard a sound behind her
on the stairs, and turning around to investigate, found Hubby
following close behind her.

“So that’s the way it’s going to be is it?”
He wagged his tail vigorously. “All right, but you’re sleeping on
the floor sir. I have sworn that no man will ever get into my bed
again until I fall deeply in love, and I meant it. This includes
you.” She continued to her room with the dog close on her
heels.

Abby set her glass of water on the bedside
table then retreated to the bathroom. When she returned she found
Hubby asleep on the bed, his head on her pillow. “The hell you do
buddy,” she growled as she lifted him body and bones to the floor.
“My bed, your floor. Now let me see.” She poked in the closet for a
moment then pulled out an old sweat shirt she had worn when she was
painting. “I guess I can sacrifice this.” She made up his bed and
settled him on it.

A few moments later she heard him dragging
the shirt under the bed. He gave a half groan, half sigh as he
settled down, and smiling, Abby drifted off to sleep. Once again a
tall dark haired woman came to walk the beach with her, and this
time they held hands as they did. Suddenly the woman cried out and
leaped away from Abby. Distraught, Abby reached for her, but the
woman cried out again.

With a start Abby sat bolt upright in bed,
sweating profusely. That last cry had been right beside her.
Suddenly she heard it again as a squirming, wriggling dog did the
pee-pee dance beside the bed. “Oh for the love of god,” growled
Abby as she rose and hurried down the stairs behind the excited
dog. Stepping into her rubber boots, she swiftly clipped on his
leash and opened the door. He bolted through, dragging her behind,
as he raced for a tall patch of grass, and did his business.

Sighing deeply, Abby gazed at the clear night
sky. The air was crisp, but she was not uncomfortable, and the
night was magnificent. There was no moon, but there appeared to be
a million bright stars, and the soft music of the gently lapping
waves seemed to call her name. As the dog came to her, wriggling
with delight and relief, she bent to hug him and tell him what a
good boy he was to wake Mom up rather than to mess the house. With
a final look, and a smile of appreciation for the night sky, Abby
returned to the house and her bed. The next day Hubby’s feeding
time was moved to mornings. Abby didn’t want too many late night
wake-up calls.

Over the next few weeks Abby kept the dog
close by her side. He rode in the car when she left the house,
whether it was just to the mail or into the city for the day. She
also spent an hour or so each day reinforcing his tricks and
teaching him new ones. One day she found one of his canine teeth on
the floor and she panicked. A swift call to the vet, and a short
conversation later, Abby was aware that he was getting his adult
teeth; she sighed with relief and booked an appointment for his
shots and his operation.

Abby had never in her life seen so pathetic a
look as that on Hubby’s face when she picked him up after the
operation. “I must have looked just like that a few months ago,”
she thought as she loaded him carefully back into the car. She
babied him completely for several days until he was back to his old
self once again.

A few weeks later they were back in town for
his booster shots. Abby had just deposited another cheque from
Harry and was amazed at the amount. She was making almost as much
money free lancing as she had made working full time, and it was
requiring surprisingly little of her time to get it done. With no
distractions Abby could get a lot of work done in a day. After
depositing her cheque, Abby bought a few groceries at the store
near the bank then returned to the car. As she got back in and gave
Hubby a biscuit for being a good boy, she had a sudden feeling that
something important was about to happen.

Puzzled, Abby backed out of the parking spot
and looked carefully around. She was a bit startled to see a tall
dark haired woman appear at the curb then stop to let her pass.
Abby was almost sure this was the woman from the dream, and she
flashed the girl her most winning smile as she passed slowly by.
The woman was quite beautiful, and Abby was a bit surprised at just
how attracted she actually was. Abby had been drawn to women
before, but never as strongly as this, and the feeling was quite
delicious. “My, my, my, Miss Abigail MacKai,” she sang softly.
“Whatever is going on here? Are we starting to like girls more than
usual, or have we been alone for too long.”

As a test, she stopped for gas at a place
where she knew a good looking young man was working. This time she
flirted a bit with him, and carefully observed her own reactions.
Nope, the brunette girl still popped into her thoughts first as she
closed her eyes. She stopped to have dinner with Billy and Edna,
and Billy took her and Hubby for a walk afterward. Abby linked her
arm through Billy’s and chatted easily to him as they walked the
dog, but later that night it was the tall woman who held her
thoughts as she relieved her tension then drifted off to sleep.
“Whatever is going on here?” she wondered, as the land of dreams
claimed her.

It was to be a long while before Abby could
pursue that line of thought. The weather turned nasty and her world
contracted into her snug home. One particularly rainy day Wanda
came through the storm for a chat. Keith had been called to
substitute teach and Wanda took the chance for a long visit with
Abby. They took their tea into the living room by the stove where
Abby had seized the excuse for a fire.

“Oh my, Abby,” sighed Wanda as she took a sip
of her tea, “This is so snug and comfy on such a dark day.”

“I agree,” smiled Abby softly as she relaxed
deeper into her chair. “The days are so much shorter now and I feel
the weight of it pressing in on me at times.”

“Oh?”

“I know I am a bit of a bubble during the
summer Wanda, but I find the lack of sunshine depressing.”

“You should live in California then.”

“I did once,” sighed Abby wistfully.

“Oh really? However did you get from there to
here?” The sudden haunted look that crossed Abby’s face brought
immediate concern to Wanda’s tone. “Oh Abby, I’m so sorry. I don’t
mean to pry, or to bring up painful memories for you.”

“I know Wanda,” Abby smiled weakly as she set
aside her tea cup. “We are friends and I guess you should know a
bit about who shares your space. Who knows, perhaps just talking
about it may do me some good after all.” She went on to tell Wanda
the whole story of how she came to buy the house here in Jamaica
Point.

“Oh my god, Abby,” breathed Wanda as the
story came to a close. “Girl, you’re a lot tougher than you look,
and stronger than folk give you credit for.”

“I know folks around here think I’m just an
empty headed little blonde piece of fluff. It comes in handy
sometimes, but it can be a drawback as well.”

“Well I have always known better than that.
You know Abby, Bride Murphy would be quite proud of you.”

“Do you really think so?” asked Abby,
brightening at this suggestion.

“Absolutely. You handled the whole situation
exactly the way she would have.”

“Well then, speaking of Bride, perhaps this
is the day to explore some of the wardrobe possibilities she left
for me,” smiled Abby as she rose to her feet. “Shall we have a poke
through and see what we can see?” A few hours later Wanda’s church
had a large donation of used clothing and Abby had several fine
retro outfits waiting to be altered.

“Some of these belonged to Bride’s great
Aunt,” said Wanda as she folded another woolen dress and laid it on
the pile Abby wanted to keep.

“She took such wonderful care of everything,”
sighed Abby as she smoothed out a silk dress and held it to her
breast.

“Bride loved clothes, and she loved to look
good. She always said if you look good, you will feel good, and
that’s what life was for anyway.”